The role of Pt loading on La2O3-Al2O3 support for methane conversion reactions via partial oxidation and steam reforming

Abstract

The effects of Pt loadings on the catalytic performance of the La2O3-Al2O3-supported Pt nanoparticles are investigated during the partial oxidation (POM) and steam reforming of methane (SRM). From analyses of XRD, UV–Vis, TPR, CO-DRIFTS, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, cyclohexane dehydrogenation reaction, Pt surface species and their dispersions were dully observed. The good degrees of interaction between Pt nanoparticles and lanthana species in the support gave robust catalysts in POM, evidenced by XPS and TEM for low Pt loadings. Arrhenius plots for SRM showed an apparent activation energy of 70 kJ mol−1 for all Pt(x wt%)/Al2O3-La2O3 catalysts. An enrichment of the Pt species at loadings superior to 0.5 wt% resulted in Pt nanoparticles weakly interacting with the La2O3-Al2O3 support and the consequent sintering of the particles in SRM and POM reactions. On the contrary, best catalytic results and a more stable performance during POM in 24 h on stream was observed, when dispersing a 0.5 wt% of Pt on the support. A strong interaction between the PtOx species and the support was crucial for La2O3 preserve the high dispersion of the Pt entities. This favored the reactivity of surface oxygen species coming from LaPtOx[Pto]n. Indeed, this chemical entity was located on the surface of the solid, at the periphery of Pto particles, being further converted into La2PtOx[Pto]n−1. The decomposition of CH4 to CO and H2 as well as the coke gasification on the accessible Pt sites gave better conversions for Pt(0.5 wt%)/Al2O3- La2O3 compared with the other solids with higher Pt loadings.